Bar None

She was entirely wrong she scolded herself the following Wednesday as she sat at her desk contemplating her choices. Once again stymied by her overactive brain.

On the one hand an owl would be perfectly capable of retuning Malfoy’s scarf. It was the sensible choice. Their brief interaction on Friday wasn’t indicative of anything more than two acquaintances forced by circumstance to share a meal. But would it be awkward that she didn’t immediately pop it in the post? …the delay seemed awkward she second guessed herself.

On the other hand she could just stop by his office and return it. But that was a bit forward. It’s not like he offered her an invitation. she wasn’t even sure where his office was located, but she could ask around and fine it easy enough.

She hated to admit her curiosity was peaked and she spent the whole weekend picking apart their encounter. The way the lines crinkled around his eyes when he smiled. His carefree demeanor was striking, it fit him. And a part of her was interested in witnessing his brash laughter again. …but just thinking of barging into his office caused her palms to sweat.

She could also just not return it. He probably had 20 scarfs she reasoned with herself. Then she could just avoid the whole awkward interaction. But it wasn’t like her to shrink from responsibility or a challenge for that matter.

Maybe she could just return to the cafe for lunch this Friday. Let fate decide. If he showed up she could return the scarf and provide the excuse of being to busy to return it. If he didn’t…well she could spiral over that this weekend over a glass of wine.

***
The rest of the week moved slowly. She ghosted through her job chipping away at the mountain of mundane projects on her to-do list.

Before she knew it, it was Friday. She stood from her desk and stretched around 11:45 am. She smiled to her assistant on her way out the door promising to finish a demand letter later that afternoon.

The cold breeze made her breath catch. She apparated to an alley around the side of the cafe. Once inside she was relieved to find that the lunch rush still hadn’t arrived. Order in hand she made her way to the table she took post at the Friday before.

She slowly ate as customers rushed in and out of the shop. As 12:30 approached she was convinced that Malfoy was not going to arrive. As she resigned her self to actually eat her lunch and get back to the office she heard the bell ring out above the door. She looked up to see grey eyes scanning the cafe. A small smile bloomed.

When he caught her eye he gave a small nod. She watched as he placed his order. Once it was ready he approached her table with the same sandwich as the week prior.

“I never took you for a thief Granger.” He drawled as he approached. A look of guilt creeped up on her face as she smiled holding up her hands.

“I’m sorry I had every intention of returning it. Time just sort of slipped me by…” she replied. Well it wasn’t a lie she internally reasoned.

This week he didn’t hesitate to sit across from her. “Though I suppose I forgot about you breaking into my family vault.” He said with a laugh. “Much appreciated by the way, I can’t imagine it was a pleasant experience.” She just shrugged and laughed along in response it really was bloody awful but markedly more exciting than her current daily life.

He unwrapped his sandwich and took a big bite. “Well” he started after swallowing. “I hope you got good use out of it. It’s been bloody freezing this week.”

“Don’t you have another?” She teased.

“No, actually.” He started to laugh. “It’s not like I have 20 laying around.” Her cheeks flushed at his statement. “Despite what you may have assumed.” He supplied with a smirk.

“You’re in luck. I have it on good authority you have a family vault full of scarves you’ll inherit one day.” She cheekily replied.

“I guess I’ll have to trust you on that one.” He said with a wink. Her internal alarm bells jingling. Oh gods, was Malfoy now flirting with her, she internally panicked?

“So have you done it yet?” He asked abruptly changing the subject.

“What?” She responded confused.

“Figured out your next move.” He replied.

“Oh. Ha. Yeah. Just keep going I guess until I pack it all in.” She muttered rolling her eyes. “Oh gosh. I don’t really mean that.” She awkwardly laughed.

“It’s ok Golden Girl. I don’t actually think you are going to end it….unless you are serious and in that case I should probably take you someplace for some help.” He said with a nervous laugh his eyes searching her face.

“I’m good” she said. “Just one of those intrusive thoughts sneaking out.” She internally cringed at her lack of people skills.

“Thank Merlin, could you imagine the scandal if you went missing after meeting me for lunch?” He laughed in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Your safe in that regard. Enough therapy session for me. How are things going with you?” I can’t believe I am actually asking Malfoy about his well-being she thought.

“I’ve been busy. I am sort of starting a new business. I figured I can’t rely on the old Malfoy way of doing things and I wanted to use my mastery.”

“Oh I didn’t realize you earned a mastery. What subject?”

“It’s no big deal, I went to America a while back and got my potions mastery…it took a while to convince a mentor to take me on.”

“Hmm” she nodded encouraging him to continue.

“I’ve been working on some experimental brews with some success and now I am opening a business to start making and distributing potions.”

“Wow, Malfoy that’s really wonderful!”

“Thanks. It‘a been a long road. I’ve spent the past few years traveling looking for investors. With their help and a large advance on my inheritance I am finally ready to open up shop.”

“Care to share what you’ve been working on?” She asked a little jealous of his venture.

“Nothing too innovative yet…at least for market consumption. I mainly have started by eliminating some of the nasty side effects for common potions. The crash after pepper-up. The addictive nature of dreamless sleep. On the research side I am still working with more complex potions. Right now I am focused on a limited veirisserum…forces answers to protect life and property but prohibits people from providing details that would admit their culpability without their solicitor present. I’ve read somewhere that’s a real problem.” He said with a smile.

“You read my editorial?” She said surprised. “I think that only makes you, me and Harry. And his review was…well let’s just say we agreed to disagree.” She said wincing at the wound to her oldest friendship and the current ocean of misunderstandings between her and Harry.

“Yes well Potter has been indoctrinated by the aurors so he’s a bit biased on any means necessary to crack a case.” He said with an eye roll.

And while she internally agreed with his assessment she scoffed at his proclamation in solidarity with her old friend. Desperate to change the subject, “so America, what was that like?”

“A bloody culture shock.” He said as they both laughed. “I was in Chicago where they mingle with muggles quite a bit. So I had to quickly figure out how to survive without magic. I showed up to my apartment and had no idea what any of the appliances did. There was a lot of takeaway in my first few weeks. After a while a few muggle-borns in my program took pity on me and came over to give me a crash course. And eventually they stopped giving me a hard time for being such a posh idiot. However, I spent my whole time searching for an American who could make a decent cup of tea and never found one.” He finished with a dramatic eye roll.

“Sounds like it was quite the experience.” She said with a smile surprised to see him talk so animatedly about his struggles. His ego was definitely more in check than when he was a bratty 12 year old.

“Most of my investors are actually American. It turns out the tarnished Malfoy name isn’t enough to dampen the American entrepreneurial spirit.” He chuckled. “I think you would love it there. Lots of museums and libraries. A swot’s dream.” He said teasingly.

“Well now you’ve really sold it, even if there is lousy tea.” She laughed. She looked up shocked to realize that they were the only ones left in the cafe except for a few stragglers. Checking the time she began clearing her lunch remnants. “I’m sorry to rush but it’s after 1:00 and I unfortunately do have to be back.” She said surprising herself that she let her regret slip out.

“Sad to leave my presence, Granger? My, my I thought we’d never see the day.” She rolled her eyes. “Well when you’re finally ready for your next thing, owl me. My new business could use someone like you. I can always give you a tour and formal rundown of my business plan.” He said with sincerity.

“Are you serious” she blurted out with a wince—“ I just mean I am surprised that you would want to work with someone like me…or me.” Her internal memories of his cruel taunts fogging her mind as old insecurities creeped in.

“Granger” he started with a whisper of regret painting his features. “I was a fool in the past. Blinded by hate and jealously. You are a natural when it comes to magic, and that went against everything I had ever been told. I am sorry if I ever made you feel less than, and for hurting your feelings. I carry a fair amount of guilt about that these days. But the point being …you are brilliant and you shouldn’t diminish yourself for anyone.”

“It’s fine Malfoy, it was a long time ago.”

“It really isn’t fine…that is. Between my bullying and that night at the manor…I had never felt so worthless just standing there while…well everything went to shit. Needless to say the fact that you will even acknowledge me is proof that you are much better than most people. And I just feel like things should be better for you now after all that.”

“Thank you Malfoy.” A few tears escaping her eyes. It wasn’t often she let herself feel the weight of dissatisfaction with how her life was going sit with her. It was a suffocating feeling, one of failure. She did everything she was supposed to and landed her dream job, so why did she feel so hollow about it all?

“Even if you don’t move forward with me, I really do think you should consider a bit of a change up.” He said gentle giving her hand on the table a squeeze. “You really do deserve more than settling.” His palm was warm and smooth and she realized just how much bigger he was than her as his hand easily enveloped hers.

She wiped her tears with her free hand and cleared her throat. “I’ll think about it, but I’m not making any promises.” She said sighing and reaching to return his scarf.

“Keep it.” He said standing. “Rumor has it I have 20 more stashed away in some vault. You can return that one when you come for your tour.”

She wrapped the scarf around her neck as they walked towards the door. They made their way to the alley to apparate. “Later Malfoy.” Awkwardness sat in the air. Do they shake hands…seems a bit formal. They certainly weren’t to the level of hugging…But she did cry in front of him in public, she internally cringed. Finally she settled on a small wave.

He smirked at her obvious discomfort. Nodding he replied “until next time solicitor.” And with a crack he was gone.